Spatially resolved simulation of a radio frequency driven micro atmospheric pressure plasma jet and its effluent

TL;DR

This paper presents a detailed numerical simulation of a helium-oxygen micro atmospheric pressure plasma jet, analyzing its properties and reactive species, and compares the results with experimental data.

Contribution

It provides the first comprehensive simulation of the $$APPJ's characteristics and reactive species distribution, validated by experimental comparison.

Findings

Effluent is free of charge carriers but rich in activated oxygen species.

Simulation results match experimental data.

Reactive oxygen species are abundant in the jet's effluent.

Abstract

Radio frequency driven plasma jets are frequently employed as efficient plasma sources for surface modification and other processes at atmospheric pressure. The radio-frequency driven micro atmospheric pressure plasma jet ($\mu$APPJ) is a particular variant of that concept whose geometry allows direct optical access. In this work, the characteristics of the $\mu$APPJ operated with a helium-oxygen mixture and its interaction with a helium environment are studied by numerical simulation. The density and temperature of the electrons, as well as the concentration of all reactive species are studied both in the jet itself and in its effluent. It is found that the effluent is essentially free of charge carriers but contains a substantial amount of activated oxygen (O, O$_3$ and O$_2(^1\Delta)$). The simulation results are verified by comparison with experimental data.